Naples Chamber Awarded 2018 Florida Commissioner of Education Business Recognition Award

Naples, FL (June 14, 2018) - Nominated by Collier County Public Schools and Superintendent Dr. Kamela Patton, The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce is a 2018 recipient of the Florida Commissioner of Education Business Recognition Award. The award was presented to Michael Dalby, president and CEO of the Naples Chamber, and to Collier County Superintendent Dr. Patton at the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Annual Education Summit on June 13, 2018 in Tampa, FL by Florida Commissioner Pam Stewart.

The Naples Chamber and its affiliate the Leadership Collier Foundation™ (LCF) were awarded for its partnership with the school system and its dedication to the students of Collier County. “The Naples Chamber of Commerce is committed to its mission of making Collier County the best place in America to live, work and visit,” says President and CEO, Michael Dalby. “As part of that commitment, we are dedicated to supporting education and the Collier County Public Schools by working with local businesses to provide work-based learning opportunities for students, ultimately building a competitive workforce from a strong education pipeline.”

​To support this effort, the Chamber hired a part time internship coordinator in 2017 and has recently increased this position to a full-time, work-based learning coordinator. Thanks to the collaboration between the school system, businesses, and the Chamber, community members view internships and work-based learning as a pipeline for future employees, supportive of the local workforce, and a way to gain fresh perspectives. Additionally, the Chamber and LCF support education and work-force efforts through career panels at schools, the popular Youth Leadership Collier™ program for rising high school seniors, and connections between businesses and future talent.